Some of the richest people in the country were arriving for the annual winter donor summit of the Koch network, the political organization founded by libertarian billionaires Charles and David Koch.
One of the Koch network’s most powerful allies was on board: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Thomas has attended Koch donor events at least twice over the years, according to interviews with three former network employees and one major donor.
A Koch network spokesperson said the network did not pay for the private jet.
Thomas’ involvement in the events is part of a yearslong, personal relationship with the Koch brothers that has remained almost entirely out of public view.
A spokesperson for the Koch network, formally known as Stand Together, did not answer detailed questions about his role at the Palm Springs events but said, “Thomas wasn’t present for fundraising conversations.”.
Crow also purchased Thomas’ mother’s home and paid private school tuition for the child Thomas was raising as his son. »
